Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre has announced its plans to reopen on 17 May, with its first show the following day.

Playing to a socially distanced audience, the venue will reopen with the first UK dates of a new tour of The Greatest Play in the History of the World…, a one-woman show written by Ian Kershaw and performed by former Coronation Street and Broadchurch star, Julie Hesmondhalgh.

The SJT’s joint Chief Executives, Paul Robinson and Caroline Routh, said: “We can’t wait to open our doors again to our wonderful audiences – we know from their messages how much they’re missing being in the building for live theatre, films and, of course, the brilliant Eat Me Café.

“We’ll be keeping all the Covid security measures that made them feel so safe when we re-opened briefly last year in place for quite some time. These will include temperature checks and hand sanitising on entry, social distancing everywhere in the building, and regular ‘fogging’, or safe disinfecting, of the both auditoria in between shows or films.”

A programme of live theatre will be announced for the summer and autumn next month.

The Greatest Play in the History of the World… can be seen in the Round at the SJT from 18-22 May. To book tickets, please click here.